SMART FARMS SMALL GRANTS ROUND NOW OPEN
A new round of the Federal Government’s Smart Farms Small Grants Program is now open to eligible Riverina and Central West organisations and individuals.
Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the funding was an opportunity for local farmers and land managers to share in $13 million to help better understand and further their knowledge of the nation’s soil.
“As the Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Soils, I know how important soil health is to the prosperity of this country,” Mr McCormack said.
“When we have healthy soil, we have a healthy nation and this program, as well as the National Soil Strategy, will ensure we get the right measures in place to achieve the best outcomes.
“This will all play a significant part as we aim to build the agriculture sector to become a $100 billion industry by 2030.”
A number of organisations have benefited from funding in previous rounds of this program, including $192,661 to Temora’s Farmlink Research towards developing best-practice site-specific mapping, prevention and treatment of subsurface acidity in southern New South Wales, $49,114 to Murrumbidgee Landcare Association towards engaging and supporting small landholders for improved land, water and stock management and $183,000 to Soil C Quest towards developing climate resilient soils network through the adoption of carbon sequestering and water use efficiency in the Central West Lachlan and other areas.
The final round of Smart Farms Small Grants program will fund a diverse range of soil extension activities across Australia.
Under this round, multiple activities may be applied for in the one application. Grants are available for between $100,000 to $250,000 per activity and will be delivered over two years.
Applicants may apply for a maximum of $2 million per application.
Eligible activities could include engaging a soil extension officer; conducting soil management workshops, seminars, roadshows or field days; creating communications products, webinars or online materials; and/or establishing trials, demonstrations and monitoring sites.
Extension Activities will seek to improve soil management, improving productivity and profitability. These measures will also support and complement the two-year National Soil Monitoring and Incentives Pilot Program which forms part of the National Soil Strategy.
This round of funding will close at 9pm on 12 October 2021.
For more information and details on how to apply, visit the Community Grants Hub www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants
Fast Facts:
• The Smart Farms program is the key agriculture portfolio initiative under phase two of the $1.1 billion National Landcare Program.
• To date, Smart Farms Small Grants has funded a total of 384 projects to the value of $25.5 million.
• The National Soil Strategy sets out how Australia will value, manage and improve its soil for the next 20 years.
• More than $54 million will be available under National Soil Monitoring and Incentives Pilot Program to encourage farmers and land managers to undertake more comprehensive soil testing in exchange for sharing their data with the program.
• Information about the Australian Government’s investment in Landcare can be found at www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/natural-resources/landcare/national-landcare-program/australian-government-investment-in-landcare
• Information about the National Soil Strategy can be found at www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/natural-resources/soils